Monday, September 14, 2015

My Trip to Boston----Marketing, Sightseeing & BALLET COSTUMES!!!

I spent last week in Boston and had an amazing time!!! Part of my time was spent roaming the Boston Ballet costume department looking at all of the beautifully sewn costumes. But before I jump ahead to that let me back up a bit and start from the beginning. I was there on retreat with my Business Mastermind group (love these talented and driven ladies), attending the Inbound conference. Side note---if you have the chance to be in a Mastermind group take it. I'm in 2 and LOVE them. As a business owner it's so important to have the right support, encouragement and connections. Ok, back to the conference---there was about 14K in attendance and featured some awesome speakers like Seth Godin, Daniel Pink, Brene Brown and Sophia Ambrosa from Nasty Gal. To top off my trip as aforementioned I also got the chance to visit the Boston City Ballet Costume Department. My Draping teacher helped arrange this visit (she's done work with the Boston Ballet). I was SUPER EXCITED to have this opportunity. And the experience was AMAZING!!! Pictures say alot more than words so here goes...

Hanging out at Inbound---managed to sneak in before the huge crowds did!

Me and My Girls!!! These are some talented and hard working entrepreneurs!!!

Opening talk with Seth Godin very inspiring---he has the best marketing advice

Chelsea Clinton was also a guest speaker in addition to many others and session speakers too! I learned a great deal from the conference.

Also, did some sightseeing.....

Visited the Harvard bookstore....

Saw this book there----it's actually going to be a movie. Would love to see it!

Was pleasantly surprised and moved to stumble upon the Shaw Memorial depicting the 54th Regiment --the first Black infantry in the Civil war (remember the movie "Glory" with Denzel Washington and Matthew Broderick---which I LOVE---depicts the story) This statue sits across from the State house and is huge. The detail is magnificent made me teary eyed!!!

I got to go to the popular tourist attraction----The Cheers bar where the show was filmed. My Dad used to love that show LOL!

After a LONG week of sessions and learning I couldn't think of a better way to end my trip than by visiting the Boston Ballet!

Exterior view...

The building was huge consisting of several floor and lots of dancers in their various classes. The school is very prestigious and one ranking high in training excellence! It was great seeing the dancers!

I was taken to the costume work room where I got to meet all of the talents behind the costume production, alterations and maintenance. Here's an underskirt that was being worked on.....

Time out for selfies and smiles!

This bodice was made impeccably with amazing skill and attention to detail:)

Charles, who oversees and runs the costume department took me into the costume closet where he allowed me to roam freely and introduced me to some great pieces. Here's one---there are a ton of ruffles on that can-can skirt.

BTW, the black velvet trim was sewn on top of the orange fabric. Each strip! Amazing accuracy and lots of work!

A lovely tutu! I like the layers and how it's engineered to stay up and flared! It has a "panty" built in which makes it easy and secure to wear!

11 comments:

My hometown!!!! You are so lucky -- I live here and have no in with Boston Ballet's costume department. I would kill for that opportunity, thanks for sharing your good fortune. Hope you enjoyed Boston, I see you made it into Cambridge (my actual hometown). Hope you enjoyed your visit and come back another time.

I love looking in detail at costumes from ballet or opera particularly. SO much work and even though others appreciate the work I think a sewer 'really' gets the work. The Dressmaker is and Australian movie coming out here on 1 October.... just try and keep me away.

productions and always wondered what their costumes looked like up close! I am new to sewing and use Kayla Green’s website to learn more. I would love to make my own costume someday, like for Halloween or other events.

I visited the costume department a couple of years ago with the local ASDP chapter. What a great tour that was! The one that floored me was the one woman who is in charge of dyeing the costumes. She does the most amazing work. And all the beads and jewels are hand-sewn on the costumes for security (don't want sequins on the stage). The work the costumers do is meticulous. And can you believe how SMALL the ballerinas are?

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